Closer Bruce Sutter missed election into the Hall of Fame by 43 votes Tuesday, but he has reason to be optimistic for next year.

Sutter, who received a vote on 66.7% of the ballots cast, shy of the 75% needed for induction, got the third-highest total this year, and the Class of 2006 — with Will Clark, Rick Aguilera, Orel Hershiser and Dwight Gooden the biggest newcomers — is short on qualified candidates.

"At least I am going in the right direction," Sutter said from his home in Kennesaw, Ga. "I am always hopeful of getting in, but it's out of my hands."

Cal Ripken Jr., Mark McGwire and Tony Gwynn become eligible in 2007. The following year the biggest names are Tim Raines and David Justice.

Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers and Dennis Eckersley are the only relief pitchers in Cooperstown. Voters have struggled to determine a closer's induction.

Sutter says he understands that closers' statistics aren't as glamorous as the starting pitchers, but bullpens and closers are taking over and diminishing the starters' contributions.

"A quality start is six innings and three earned runs, a 4.50 ERA," Sutter said. "A starter that throws 200 innings is a workhorse. It used to be 300."

When Sutter played from 1976-1988, closers routinely pitched more than one inning. But today they are set up to pitch just the ninth inning.

Sutter pitched at least 100 innings in five different seasons. By comparison, St. Louis Cardinals closer Jason Isringhausen, who had 47 saves, pitched 75 1/3 innings in 74 games last season.

"It's not good or bad, but closers have changed things," Sutter said. "I don't think you are going to win a World Series without one. Where would the Yankees be without Mariano Rivera?"

Sutter got a kick out of broadcasters making a big deal out of Houston's Brad Lidge and Boston's Keith Foulke pitching two or more innings during a postseason appearance this past October.

"Pitching two innings and coming back the next day, that's the stuff we did all season," Sutter says. "Saves are not easy, but I think they are easier now.

"I warmed up in the seventh and maybe pitched. Then in the eighth and maybe pitched. Lee Smith, Goose Gossage and I got a lot of seven-out saves."

Sutter finished in the top 10 in MVP and Cy Young voting five times each, winning the National League Cy Young Award in 1979.

"The Hall is for a special few," he said. "It shouldn't be easy to get in."